Confederation
Confederation
 A group of people,
countries,
organizations, etc.,
that are joined
together in some
activity or effort
 More or less
permanently united
for common
purposes
Articles of Confederation
Articles of Confederation
Articles of Confederation
Presented in 1777 by a committee appointed by Congress the Articles of Confederation were not ratified by all 13 states until March 1781. Some had problems with the idea of central government
Becomes the first Constitution of the United States
Problems with the Articles of Confederation
Problems with the Articles of Confederation
From dealing with Britain, a fear of a strong national government. Problems with the Articles of Confederation
The Founders believed that a central government was necessary but they believed that the British government deprived Americans of their right s and they thought this was likely to happen with any central government.
 The fear that some states might dominate others in the national government. Problems with  Each state wanted to the Articles of make sure that the national government Confederation would be organized in such a way that it would not interfere in their states interests.
Unicameral
Unicameral
Unicameral
 Consisting of a single chamber, as a legislative assembly.
Bicameral
Bicameral
Bicameral
 Having two branches, chambers, or houses, as a legislative body.
Government Layout
 The resulting government was comprised of a unicameral Congress
Government Layout
 No executive and no national courts.  Disputes among the states were settled by Congress.  Congress only had the powers that were expressed in the Articles, basically foreign affairs and defense. Congressional powers
Congressional powers
 Congress could: make war and peace
Congressional powers
 Send and receive ambassadors
 Enter into treaties
 Raise and equip a navy
 Maintain an army by requesting troops from the states
 Appoint senior military officers
Congressional powers
 Fix standards of weights and measures
 Regulate Indian affairs
 Establish post offices
 Decide certain disputes among the states
Northwest Ordinance of 1787
Northwest Ordinance of 1787
Northwest Ordinance of 1787
 Individual states ceded their claims to the national government.  Established the principle that territories were to be developed for statehood on an equal basis with the older states. Setup of Governmental Departments
Setup of Governmental Departments
 Congress set up the Departments of
 Foreign Affairs
 War
 Marine
 Treasury.
Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation
Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation
 Congress could not levy or collect taxes.  Congress did not have the power to regulate trade.
 Congress could not force anyone to obey the laws passed or abide by the Articles.
 Laws had to be approved by 9 of the 13 states.
 Amending or changing the Articles required consent of all 13 states.
 No executive branch. This meant there was no unity in policy making and no way to coordinate the work of the different committees.
 The government had no national court system.
Growing problems
The states began to quarrel, mainly over boundary lines and tariffs.
States began to deal directly with foreign nations.
Growing problems
The government owed $40 million to foreign governments and American soldiers.
The states began facing financial troubles.
Economic troubles led to rebellion.
Shays’s
Rebellion
Shays’s
Rebellion
Shays’s
Rebellion
Daniel Shays was a former Army Captain and a farmer.
He like several other men left their farms and businesses to fight in the Revolutionary War.
When they returned home they found they no longer owned their farms and business because they were sold to pay debts accrued while off fighting.
The national government had no money to pay the soldiers, and now they had no means to earn money.
Daniel Shays led a band of 1200 men that closed the Massachusetts state supreme court.
Shays’s Rebellion
The justices offered them no help, so they advanced on the federal arsenal in Springfield.
The rebellion was put down by the Massachusetts militia.
This and other rebellions prompted many Americans to call for a strong national government.
Constitutional
Convention of
1787
Constitutional
Convention of
1787
 This convention began on May 25, 1787.
 All states except Rhode Island sent delegates.
Constitutional
Convention of
1787
 74 delegates were appointed, 55 attended.
 8 delegates signed the Declaration of Independence.
 6 signed the Articles of Confederation.